The United States has completed its bilateral consultations with Japan for the country’s membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). If ultimately approved, membership is seen as potentially aiding U.S. liquefied natural gas to Japan (see Daily GPI, March 19). “Since November 2011, the United States has been engaged in consultations with Japan focused on Japan’s readiness to meet the TPP’s high standards for liberalizing trade and investment, and to address specific bilateral issues of concern in the automotive and insurance sectors, as well as other Japanese non-tariff measures,” said Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis. “…[W]e are pleased to welcome Japan’s participation in the TPP negotiations pending a consensus agreement among the current TPP members and the completion of our respective domestic processes.” Through the TPP, the United States and 10 Asia-Pacific countries are seeking to negotiate a next-generation, regional trade agreement.

With support from natural gas utilities, environmental groups and a national environmental consulting firm, Pullman, WA-based Washington State University (WSU) researchers are scheduled to begin a methane tracking project that will help quantify the emissions from unburned methane throughout the national gas distribution system. The research is viewed as important to the industry and environmentalists because uncombusted methane is considered a “potent greenhouse gas.” WSU research team leader Regents Professor Brian Lamb underscored the important of obtaining “direct, carefully measured data under real-world conditions” to eventually determine the scope of the methane emissions nationally, particularly as shale plays ramp up U.S. production of the fuel. The researchers will make direct emission measurements component by component at company gas facilities and for individual underground pipeline leaks. Among the organizations commissioning the WSU research are the American Gas Association, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), National Grid, Southern California Gas Co. and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. This is part of a two-year research series between EDF and the gas industry.

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